Secrets Worth Keeping (Finding my Home #2)- Nikita Parmenter Page 0,149

got MMA lessons for Jensen for Christmas.

I drive blindly down the road not really sure where I’m going but just driving and taking the corners far too quickly especially considering it’s raining. I’m too lost in my thoughts to care though as I wrack my brains trying to think of the directions to the MMA club and seriously hoping that they’re open.

Chapter Thirty-Six

I’m shocked when I arrive at the MMA gym having no idea how I got here and aware that I should probably be slightly worried that I don’t know. I brush it off though, the anger feels heavy in my gut and I haphazardly park my bike before hopping off and rushing through the heavy downpour towards the door. I pull my bike helmet off and take one of my ear phones out as I get to the door just as an older man, with grey hair but in better shape than most teenagers, I’m guessing the owner, starts to undo bolts to open up the gym.

Looks like I got here just in time. Now I just need to hope that he’ll let me in dripping wet and obviously mad as hell.

He studies me briefly and I try to smile but it comes out as a grimace. He shuts the door and I’m just about to turn back around, thinking that he’s decided not to let me in but he comes back and opens the door handing me a towel and folding his arms over his barrel chest.

A man of few words, something I definitely appreciate right now.

I frown at the towel and he raises his eyebrow in surprise before he motions to me. I look down at myself and for the first time realise that in my haste to leave the house without anyone stopping me, I forgot to put my bike jacket on and I am literally soaked right through, I grimace and start to dry off as best I can. When I’m done he opens the door for me and I walk in managing a small smile of thanks as he points me towards doors at the end of the corridor.

“There’s some heavy bags in the corner, I’ll make sure you aren’t disturbed. My regulars will turn up soon but they’ll leave you be. If they give you any grief though tell ‘em Rusty said you could be here” he says gruffly and then turns and goes back to what appears to be an office, leaving the door open.

This was exactly what I needed and I have a feeling that it will very quickly become one of my favourite places. I put the headphone I took out at the door back in and quickly make my way towards the doors. Once through them I briefly admire the set up with a large octagon ring in the middle and a smaller normal boxing ring off to the side as well as various other equipment before I spot the punching bags in the corner and make a beeline for them, although I’d calm down quicker if my opponent was fighting back it’s probably not a good idea in this state. I could end up doing some serious damage.

I carelessly drop my helmet on the floor by the wall making sure it’s out of the way and I won’t trip over it. I run through a quick range of stretches vaguely aware of a couple of guys coming in. They shoot me curious glances but true to Rusty’s word they don’t bother me.

I only do a quick warm up, too wound up to do a proper one and I don’t bother wrapping my hands since I don’t have my wraps with me and don’t want to bother asking Rusty for tape. I start in on some simple combinations, I’ve only been at it for maybe ten minutes when Rusty enters my line of vision, I stop, barely breathing hard and take one of my headphones out noting the volume of the gym has risen substantially. He holds up some tape for me.

“Want me to show you how to wrap your hands?” he asks.

“Nah I got it, thanks Rusty” I say as I catch the tape he throws at me, he watches me for a second but when it’s clear I really do know what I’m doing he backs off and walks back out of the gym.

I wrap my hands quickly and then start back in on the punching bag, working harder and throwing in kicks and elbows. Absolutely